Folding bedstead



(No Model.)

G. W. BISBEE.

FOLDING BBDSTEAD.

No. 341,724. Patented 'May 11, 1886.

W /Z'Jy N. PETERS. Pnomumogmphsr, washingm. n. c.

GEORGE W. BISBEE, OF CHICAGO,

artnr lirica.

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE S.

HURLBERT, OF EAST ORANGE, NEV JERSEY.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

PECIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,724, dated May ll. 1886.

Application tiled Decembr 4. 1885. Serial No. 184,691. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Bisnnn, of Chica-go, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Bedsteads, of which the following is hereby declared to be a full, clear, and exact description, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

Bed-frames formed of folding sections have heretofore been provided with a series of coilsprings set centrally and transversely beneath the bottom cover, so as to bear against the cover and hold it from sagging at such part. The rows of coil-springs were mounted upon transverse slats constituting a platform, said platform being carried by a number of dexible cables running lengthwise of the bed and suspended from the endV bars of the bed-frame. On folding the sections of the bed-frame together, the suspension-cables would be doubled over, and would continue to hold the coilsprings under tension against the bottom cover, in consequence of which the cover could not readily yield or fall away,as desired, to accommodate the bedding. The sections must accordingly be of greater depth than would be requisite if the bottom cover when folded had freer play than the presence of the coil-springs bearing thereon under tension will allow. By my present invention this difiiculty is obviated, the central coil-springs are retained, as usual, to prevent the sagging of the bottom cover, but are substantially off tension when the sections are folded together, so that the cover, with the bedding, can sink away more freely into the case-sections, better utilizing the space and diminishing the depth of the sections that would otherwise be necessary.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a view in elevation (parts being in section) of theinner side of a folding bed-frame with my invention applied thereto, the sections of the bed-frame being in extended position. Fig. 2

is a plan view of the bed-frame with the sections thereof extended, as in Fig. l.

In the familiar form shown by the drawings the section C of the bed-frame is pivoted, as at y,`in any usual or convenient manner, to

l the sides of the upright casing A. The outer section, B, of the bed-frame is hinged, as at x, to the section C, and is provided with the legs a, which can be extended at will when the bed is open, to support the section B in position. The bottom cover, D, extends freely, as shown, from end to end of the bed-frame, and is secured in any convenient manner to the end bars of the bedstead. Centrally and transversely beneath the bottom cover is arranged a series of coil-springs, I-I, which bear against said cover, and are mounted in position upon the transverse slats G. There may be one, two, or more rows of said springs, as may be necessary for the object in view,which is to prevent the bottom cover from sagging or becoming depressed, as it is apt to do after more or less usage. rIhe slats G upon which the coil-springs are mounted, may be maintained at suitable distances apart by the tiebars 9,01' other convenient means, the tie-bars 'when used forming with the slats a freelymovable platform disconnected from the side rails of the bed-section.

The platform or slats, as the case may be, instead of being carried by the longitudinal suspension-cables of the older construction may be sustained in position by the short flexible cords I, which pass conveniently over the sheave i, attached to the inner sides of the bed section C, and are secured, as at i', to the bedsection B. By this means, when the bed-sections are extended, as shown in the drawings, the coil-springs I-I will be held under tension snugly and evenly against the bottom cover, and in manner to prevent the sagging thereof across its central portion. On folding the section B upon its companion section,O, the pull or stress upon the tlexible cords I will be relaXed, thereupon permitting the slats G and the coil-springs H to fall away from the bottom cover, D, so that said cover, together with the bedding, can freely enter and occupy the space in the bed-section O and more fully utilize the same. The folding sections B C can in consequence be made of lesser depth than was practicable in the older form of bedstead, wherein the suspension-cables doubled over as the sections were folded together and held the coil-springs under tension, as before,

IOO

against the bottom cover. Because of this diminution in the depth of the folded sections, otherwise requisite, it is obvious that on turning said sections about the pivots y into the 5 upright case A they will occupy less space in said case, which latter, accordingly, need not project so far into the apartment.

Not restricting myself to the precise details hereinbefore set forth, nor to the particular 1o form of folding bed in Which lmy invention is lconveniently embodied, and having thus described said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination,with the bedframe formed of folding sections and with a bottom cover, 15 of a series of.springs located centrally beneath said bottom cover, a platform or slats for preventing the disarrangement of said springs, and the flexible cords attached to said platform or slats, extending over guides on one of 2o the folding sections and secured to the other section, substantially as described.

GEORGE W. BISBEE.

Witnesses:

GEO. P. FISHER, Jr., J AMES H. PEIRcE. 

